By Francesca Gariano
Kristin Chenoweth and her now-husband, Josh Bryant, have tied the knot!
The illustrious Broadway star and the talented musician exchanged vows on September 2nd in Dallas, Texas, a heartwarming event documented through photos shared by Chenoweth and Bryant on Instagram and showcased in People magazine.
Their love story began back in 2018, ultimately leading to a heartfelt engagement in October 2021.
In a private interview with People, Chenoweth discussed her love life and acknowledged her longtime status as a “self-proclaimed bachelorette.” Marriage was never on her radar, she acknowledged. I had even been engaged in the past and couldn’t follow through. But then I met Josh.Everything started to change then. The idea of letting this extraordinary man leave me sickened me. I feel incredibly fortunate.
For her special day, Chenoweth broke away from tradition with her choice of wedding attire, opting for a sheer gown with nude and pink overlays instead of the customary white dress. Explaining her choice, she shared, “I never envisioned myself getting married, so I decided to go for something unconventional with my gown.”
To pay homage to their shared love for music, the ceremony and reception were infused with musical elements. Bryant mentioned their plans for a “mini jam session,” elaborating, “We’ll have a DJ and all the usual, but I wanted a moment where musical instruments were set up, and our friends could spontaneously join in and play for a while—a more intimate musical experience, not just a large-scale jam session.”
Friends and celebrities flooded the couple’s Instagram posts with congratulatory messages, including Rita Wilson, who exclaimed, “So thrilled for you both!!!! Two wonderful people who found each other!”
Jonathan Scott, who recently proposed to Zooey Deschanel after a four-year courtship, added his warm wishes, saying, “I’m beaming for you!! Congratulations.”
Sterling K. Brown shared his heartfelt congratulations, writing, “Congratulations, Gorgeous!”
Amy Sedaris joined the chorus of well-wishers with a cascade of celebratory emojis, “🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌.”
For those curious about Josh Bryant and the five-year journey he shared with Chenoweth, here’s a deeper look into their remarkable story.
The couple received a flood of warm wishes and congratulations in the Instagram comments, with friends and celebrities chiming in to celebrate their union. Rita Wilson expressed her joy, writing, “Such happiness for both of you!!!!!! Two amazing souls who have discovered each other!”
Jonathan Scott, who recently proposed to Zooey Deschanel after four years of courtship, shared his excitement, saying, “I’m overflowing with happiness for you!! Congratulations.”
Sterling K. Brown sent his own heartfelt message of congratulations, declaring, “Congratulations, you look absolutely stunning!!”
Amy Sedaris joined the chorus of well-wishers with a lively set of emojis, “🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌.”
For those eager to learn more about Bryant and his remarkable five-year journey with Chenoweth, here’s an in-depth look into their relationship.
Who is Josh Bryant?
Chenoweth and Bryant share a strong musical connection. The “Schmigadoon!” actor discussed Bryant and their relationship during a November 2021 interview on “The Jess Cagle Show.” During the interview, she mentioned his background in a country band and his time living in Nashville.
She described him as a talented guitarist who has collaborated with many esteemed artists. In the past, he was a member of the band formerly known as Backroad Anthem.
Bryant occasionally offers glimpses into his life as a musician on his Instagram account, interspersing posts featuring Chenoweth and his family.
Back in June 2015, Backroad Anthem achieved a significant milestone by performing their inaugural arena show when they opened for Lynyrd Skynyrd. In more recent times, Bryant has shared the stage with country star Ty Herndon, including a memorable performance at Birdland Jazz Club and an appearance on the “Tamron Hall Show,” where they performed the song “God or the Gun.”
Throughout their relationship, Bryant has frequently joined Chenoweth on stage for various performances, including a memorable appearance at the Metropolitan Opera during her “Christmas at the Met” special, where she showcased several tracks from her album “Happiness is … Christmas!” Shortly after they began dating, Bryant also accompanied Chenoweth to Nashville in October 2018 for a joint performance of “Desperado.”
How did Josh Bryant and Kristin Chenoweth meet?
Chenoweth and Bryant’s first meeting seemed like destiny had a hand in it – it all happened at a wedding. Chenoweth shared the charming story on “The Jess Cagle Show,” recounting how they crossed paths at her niece’s wedding, where she had hired Backroad Anthem to perform. She recalled, “I noticed him, and he noticed me, but we were both involved with other people at the time. Then, the following summer, my nephew got married and hired the same band, and that’s when we reconnected.”
Between her niece’s and nephew’s weddings, Chenoweth mentioned that they had become “online friends,” bonding over their shared love for music, and she had the chance to get to know the entire band. The singer revealed, “By the time we reunited at that second wedding, sparks flew.” Since then, they have been together, with Bryant playfully confirming their anniversary date as August 3, 2018, in the background during the interview.
“He has an impeccable memory. You can think of me as the one who forgets dates,” Chenoweth quipped. “He’s truly incredible, a wonderful guy, and an exceptional musician.”
Chenoweth also discussed her relationship with Bryant during her appearance on TODAY in March 2022 while promoting her book, “What Will I Do with My Love Today?” Speaking with Hoda Kotb and Jenna Bush Hager, she was asked if she knew right away that Bryant was her soulmate. Chenoweth agreed, saying, “Yes, because when I saw how he treated someone in the service industry with such kindness, I thought, ‘Hmm, that’s someone I’d like to get to know better.'”
“And, of course, his guitar-playing skills didn’t hurt,” Chenoweth added with a playful smile. “And then there are those blue eyes, but we’ll save that for later.”
When Did Kristin Chenoweth and Josh Bryant Become Engaged?
Chenoweth shared the news of her engagement to Bryant on October 29, 2021, via Instagram.
The couple opened up about their engagement in an interview with People, revealing that the magical moment happened on the rooftop of New York City’s iconic Rainbow Room. Chenoweth playfully reflected on her previous experiences, joking about being “the runaway bride” in the past, and she exclaimed, “Now that I’ve found him, I won’t let him go. I will rush to meet him at the altar.”
Bryant, elated about their engagement, declared, “My best friend and soulmate said ‘YES’ to me! Kristin is my world, my everything, and I can’t wait to spend the rest of my life with her!”
Chenoweth has also been open about the 14-year age gap between her and Bryant, addressing it during an interview with Access Hollywood in March 2022, where she spoke with Mario Lopez and Scott Evans. She wanted to set the record straight, emphasizing, “He is younger, and I want to say this because I want to speak to all those who date younger partners — this shouldn’t matter if you find your true connection.”
When Evans humorously suggested that meeting a romantic partner in person was “almost as old school as courtship,” Chenoweth quickly jumped in and shared what Bryant had said to her before they officially started dating. She recounted, “He said to me that night, ‘I want to court you.'”
With a playful tone, she added, “I thought, ‘What are we, in the 1930s?’ I was quite busy!” Chenoweth continued, “He asked me, ‘Where will you be next weekend?’ I replied, ‘Boone, North Carolina,’ and he actually came to see my show. Afterwards, we even went to the Waffle House.”
Chenoweth admitted that she initially resisted her feelings for Bryant because of her strong sense of independence. She shared, “I kept ‘fighting’ it because I’ve always been so independent. For some reason, I thought being in a relationship would take away my independence, but it didn’t. Instead, he celebrates it because he’s an independent spirit too.”
This story first appeared on TODAY.com. More from TODAY: